Valve means for controlling discharge of waste liquid into pneumatic sewage disposal system

ABSTRACT

Waste liquid is discharged into a pneumatic sewage disposal system from a drain conduit into which such liquid flows from a place in a kitchen or laundry or a fixture in a bathroom like a bathtub or wash basin, for example. A main valve of valve structure, which is operatively associated with the drain conduit for controlling flow of waste liquid into the sewage system, moves from its closed position toward its open position and back to its closed position with increase and decrease, respectively, in the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in the drain conduit.

United States Patent Hagdorn [54] VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING DISCHARGEOF WASTE LIQUID INTO PNEUMATIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

Manfred Otto Hagdorn, Stockholm,

Sweden Aktiebolaget Sweden Nov. 12, 1970 Electrolux, Stockholm,

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 13, 1969 Sweden 15590/69 US. Cl..l37/395, 137/403, 137/492.5 lnt.Cl ..Fl6k2l/18,Fl6k 31/12 Field ofSearch ..137/188, 205, 236, 395, 397,

[151 3,654,953 [451 Apr. 11, 1972 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATESPATENTS 482,439 9/1892 Liernur.... ..137/236 2,941,376 6/1960 Messerli137/ 188 X 3,115,148 12/1963 Liljendahl ..137/205 Primary Examiner-HenryT. Klinksiek Attorney-Edmund A. Fenander [57] ABSTRACT 11 Claims, 1Drawing Figure VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING DISCHARGE OF WASTE LIQUIDINTO PNEUMATIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention In a pneumatic sewage disposal system provisionmust be made for controlling the discharge of waste liquid flowing intosuch a sewage system from places in kitchens and laundries and fixturesin bathrooms like bathtubs and wash basins, for example.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is customary to employ a main valveand operating mechanism therefor for controlling the flow of wasteliquid from a drain conduit into the pneumatic sewage disposal system.It has been the practice either to actuate the valve operating mechanismmanually or automatically responsive to the partial vacuum prevailing inthe sewage system.

Such prior art arrangements have the drawback that the main valve movesto its fully open position even when relatively small quantities ofwaste liquid flow into the drain conduit for discharge into the sewagesystem. There also is the likelihood that the main valve cannot move toits closed position before or at the same time that the waste liquidstops flowing at the region immediately ahead of the main valve.

When the aforementioned conditions occur, the partial vacuum prevailingin the sewage system is extended upstream to the zone ahead of the mainvalve in which ambient air at atmospheric pressure is present. This isobjectionable because the partial vacuum for the sewage system at thedownstream side of the main valve can be reduced to such an extent thatit will be ineffective to suck out waste liquid from the upstream sideof the main valve.

It also has been proposed to employ a float-operated main valve which isoperatively associated with mechanism actuated by the partial vacuum inthe sewage system. Such floatoperated main valves, in addition to beingcomplicated and relatively expensive, create pollution and cloggingproblems in the float chamber which also is objectionable.

All of the prior art arrangements referred to above produce an annoyingsound when the control valve is operating, which is objectionable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to controlling thedischarge of waste liquid from places in kitchens and laundries andfixtures in bathrooms like bathtubs and wash basins, for example, into apneumatic sewage disposal system and has for its object the provision ofimproved valve means that includes a normally closed main valve thatmoves from its closed position toward its open position and back to itsclosed position responsive to increase and decrease, respectively, inthe hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in the conduit into which suchliquid drains.

I accomplish this by providing in a discharge conduit, which is adaptedto be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which waste liquid froma drain conduit is discharged into a pneumatic sewage disposal system, amain valve and operating means therefor which functions to open the mainvalve responsive to a partial vacuum and is urged to its closed positionwhen no longer influenced by such partial vacuum.

The main valve operating means is connected to a region of tionresponsive to or partly increase in the hydrostatic pressure of wasteliquid in the drain conduit. The control valve moves from its closedposition responsive to increase in the hydrostatic pressure of wasteliquid in the drain conduit. The main valve moves from its closedposition responsive to the position of the control valve which in turndetermines the ability of the partial vacuum to influence the positionthe main valve will assume. Since the main valve moves from its normalclosed position to its fully open position and back to its closedposition with changes in the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in thedrain conduit, the main valve will operate silently and without noise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing the single FIGURE is avertical sectional view more or less diagrammatically illustrating valvemeans and pneumatic operating mechanism therefor which embodies myinvention for controlling the discharge of waste liquid into a pneumaticsewage disposal system responsive to the hydrostatic pressure of suchwaste liquid flowing into a drain conduit from a place having an outlet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing I have shown myinvention embodied in a pneumatic sewage disposal system for controllingthe discharge of waste liquid into the system responsive to thehydrostatic pressure of a body of such waste liquid in its path of flowto the sewage disposal system. Waste liquid flows by gravity through anL-shaped drain conduit 10 from the outlet 11 of a place 12 in a kitchenor laundry or a fixture in a bathroom like a bathtub or wash basin, forexample. The waste liquid flows from the drain conduit 10 into adischarge conduit 14 which is adapted to be connected to a pneumaticsewage disposal system and maintained at a partial vacuum.

A valve 15 is operatively associated with the discharge conduit 14 forcontrolling flow of waste liquid thereto from the drain conduit 10. Thevalve 15 comprises a valve member or blade which functions to controlflow of waste liquid from the place 12 to the pneumatic sewage disposalsystem and is movable between a fully open position and a closedposition at the inlet end of the discharge conduit 14, as illustrated inthe drawing. The valve member 15 is fixed to a piston 16 movable withina casing 17 and is biased to its normally closed position by acompression spring 18. The casing 17 is provided with an opening 19 forbleeding ambient air therein to promote movement of the valve blade 16from an open position to its closed position, as will be explainedpresently. In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that thecasing 17 and movable piston 16 therein and spring 18 constitute means20 for operating the valve member 15.

The casing 17 is connected by a conduit section 21a, a control valve 22and a conduit section 21b to a region 23 which is at a partial vacuumand downstream from the valve member 15. The control valve 22 comprisesa hollow casing 24 formed to provide a seat 25 for a valve member 26.The valve member 26 is movable toward and from its seat 25 and is biasedto its closed position by a spring 27.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that when the valvemember 26 of the control valve 22 is removed from its seat 25 and in anopen position, the conduit sections 21a and 21b and the passagewayformed therebetween by the hollow casing 24 constitute means forconnecting the valve operating means 20 to the region 23 of thedischarge conduit 14 which is at a partial vacuum. When the casing 17 isconnected to the region 23 at a partial vacuum under these conditions,downward movement will be imparted to the piston 16 against the biasingaction of the spring 18 whereby the valve member 15 will be moveddownward to an open position from its closed position illustrated in thedrawing.

Conversely, when the valve member 26 of the control valve 22 is closedand positioned against its seat 25, the valve 15 no longer will be incommunication with the region 23 at a partial vacuum and the spring 18will be effective to urge the valve member 15 to its closed position.Such upward movement of the valve member 15 will be promoted by ambientair at atmospheric pressure which bleeds into the casing 17 through thesmall opening 19 in the valve operating means 20.

In accordance with my invention I provide pressure sensing means 28 forregulating the valve operating means 20, the sensing means beinginfluenced by a pressure condition affected by the hydrostatic pressureof waste liquid in the drain conduit 10. In the preferred embodimentillustrated, the sensing means 28 is upstream from the valve 15 andcomprises a flexible diaphragm fixed in the wall of the drain conduit 10which is responsive to increase and decrease, respectively, in thehydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in the drain conduit 10.

The diaphragm 28 desirably can be formed of elastomeric material likerubber or a suitable plastic like Teflon, for example. The diaphragm 28is operatively connected to the valve member 26 of control valve 22 byan elongated member 29 so that the valve member 26 will assume anyposition between and including its fully open and closed positionsdepending upon the pressure condition to which the diaphragm 28 issubjected.

In the drawing the valve member 15 coupled in the discharge conduit 14and the valve member 26 of the control valve 22 are both illustrated intheir closed positions. These are the normal positions of the valvemembers 17 and 26 when no waste liquid is flowing from the place 12 intothe pneumatic sewage system. Under these conditions the liquid surfacelevel of the column of liquid in the drain conduit 10 is at A and thediaphragm 28 is subject to a hydrostatic pressure which is insufficientto move the valve member 26 from its closed position at the seat 25.With the valve member 26 closed the valve operating means 20 isdisconnected from the region 23 at a partial vacuum and the spring 18will be effective to urge the valve member 15 to its closed position.

When waste water now is discharged from the place 12 into the drainconduit 10 the liquid surface level at A will rise. At a predeterminedliquid level in the drain conduit 10 the hydrostatic pressure at theregion of the diaphragm 28 will be sufficient for the latter to impartmovement to the elongated member 29 to effect opening of the valvemember 26. The extent to which the valve member 26 opens will bedependent upon the rate at which waste liquid flows from the place 12into the drain conduit 10. Stated another way, the valve member 26 willopen by degrees when waste liquid commences to flow into the drainconduit; and, if only a relatively small quantity of waste liquid isintroduced into the drain conduit, the valve member 26 will move to apartially open position which can be rather small.

Assuming that the valve member 26 only provides a small opening in thepassageway formed in the control valve 22, the valve operating means 20will now be in communication with the region 23 at a partial vacuum.This will effect downward movement of the piston 16 and the valve member15 fixed thereto. It will be understood that, since the valve member 26is in a partially open position which is relatively small, the valvemember 15 also will be in a partially open position that is small anddependent upon the extent that valve member 26 is open. In the event alarge quantity of waste liquid now flows from the place 12 into thedrain conduit 10, and the hydrostatic pressure at the region of thediaphragm 28 is sufficient, the valve member 26 very well can move toits wide open position which will render the valve operating means 20operable to move valve member 15 in turn to its wide open position.

When the flow of waste liquid from the place 12 into the drain conduit10 stops and the liquid surface level in the latter falls back to thelevel A shown in the drawing, the valve member 26 and diaphragm 28 willreturn to their original positions which means that the valve member 26will be in its closed position and the hydrostatic pressure acting onthe diaphragm will be ineffective to move the valve member 26 from itsclosed position. The valve operating'means 20 now is disconnected fromthe region 23 at a partial vacuum and the spring 18 will be operable tourge the valve member 15 to its closed position, as explained above,with the aid of ambient air at atmospheric pressure which flows into thecasing 17 through the small opening 19.

In view of the fact that the valve member 15 is moved gradually from itsnormal closed position to its wide open position and back to its closedposition with increase and decrease, respectively, in the hydrostaticpressure of waste liquid in the drain conduit 10, the valve 15 willoperate silently and without noise. There never is any danger that thevalve member 15 will move to its full open position when a relativelysmall quantity of waste liquid flows into the drain conduit from theplace 12. And the valve member will always move to its closed positionbefore the liquid surface level of the column of waste liquid in thedrain conduit 10 falls below a predetermined level which, in theembodiment illustrated and described above, is the level indicated at A.

The opening 19 in the casing 17 is of such size that the ambient airpassing into the casing will promote upward movement of the piston 16 atthe desired rate to close the valve member 15 when the control valve 22closes. Further, the opening 19 may be positioned anywhere in theconduit section 21a between the casing 17 and the seat 25 for the valvemember 26 of the control valve 22. v

By providing the diaphragm 28 in a vertical position in the wall of thedrain conduit 10, as shown in the drawing, the likelihood that sedimentwill accumulate on the diaphragm to such a degree that it will notfunction properly is negligible.

Iclaim:

1. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of

a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having anoutlet,

b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit andadapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which wasteliquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposalsystem,

0. structure comprising a valve which is movable between closed and openpositions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow ofwaste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit,

(1. said valve normally being closed,

e. means urging said valve closed,

f. means moving said normally closed valve from its closed positiontoward its fully open position responsive to partial vacuum, and

g. means regulating said last-mentioned valve moving means to effectmovement of said valve from its closed position toward its fully openposition and back to its closed position responsive to increase anddecrease, respectively, in the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid insaid drain con- 5 5 duit.

2. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of

a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having anoutlet,

b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit andadapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which wasteliquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposalsystem,

0. structure comprising a valve which is movable between closed and openpositions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow ofwaste liquid. from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit,

d. said valve normally being closed,

e. means urging said valve closed, and

f. means moving said normally closed valve from its closed positiontoward its fully open position responsive to increase in the hydrostaticpressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit.

3. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal 75 system, of

a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having anoutlet,

b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit andadapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which wasteliquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposalsystem,

c. structure comprising a first valve which is movable between closedand open positions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controllingflow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit,

d. means biasing said first valve to its closed position,

e. means defining a place at a partial vacuum,

f. means responsive to a partial vacuum for moving said first valve toan open position against said biasing means, said last-mentioned meansincluding conduit means connected to said place,

g. a second valve coupled in said conduit means, and

h. pressure sensing means responsive to the hydrostatic pressure ofwaste liquid in said drain conduit,

i. said pressure sensing means being operatively connected to saidsecond valve to effect movement thereof between its fully open andclosed positions responsive to the hydrostatic pressure to which saidpressure sensing means is subjected.

4. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of

a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having anoutlet,

b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit andadapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which wasteliquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposalsystem,

c. structure comprising a first valve which is movable between closedand open positions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controllingflow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit,said first valve normally being closed,

. means urging said first valve closed,

. means operative to cause said normally closed first valve to move toan open position responsive to a partial vacuum, said last-mentionedmeans including conduit means connected to a region of said dischargeconduit downstream from said first valve,

g. a second valve coupled in said conduit means, and

h. pressure sensing means influenced by a pressure condition affected bythe hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit,

i. said pressure sensing means being operatively connected to saidsecond valve to effect movement thereof between its fully open andclosed positions responsive to the pressure condition to which saidpressure sensing means is subjected.

5. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of

a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having anoutlet,

b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit andadapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which wasteliquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposalsystem,

c. structure comprising a valve which is movable between closed and openpositions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow ofwaste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit,

d. said valve normally being closed,

e. means urging said valve closed,

f. means moving said normally closed valve from its closed positiontoward its fully open position responsive to apartial vacuum, and

g. means upstream from said valve responsive to increase in thehydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit operative toregulate said last-mentioned valve movinfilmeans to move said valve fromits closed position. 6. e combination w1th a pneumatic sewage disposalsystem, of

a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having anoutlet,

b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit andadapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which wasteliquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposalsystem,

0. structure comprising a first valve which is coupled in said dischargeconduit for controlling flow of waste liquid from said drain conduit tosaid discharge conduit,

d. means operatively connected to said first valve for operating thesame responsive to partial vacuum, said last-mentioned means includingconduit means connected to a region at a partial vacuum,

e. a second valve coupled in said conduit means,

f. pressure sensing means upstream from said first valve influenced by apressure condition affected by the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquidin said drain conduit, and

g. said pressure sensing means being operatively connected to saidsecond valve to effect movement thereof between its fully open andclosed positions responsive to the pressure condition to which saidpressure sensing means is subjected.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said pressure sensingmeans comprises a flexible diaphragm.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said flexible diaphragm issubject to the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drainconduit.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said flexible diaphragm isdisposed in a wall of said drain conduit.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said means for operatingsaid first valve responsive to a partial vacuum is provided with anopening for bleeding ambient air therein.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said conduit meansresponsive to partial vacuum is connected to a region of said dischargeconduit downstream from said first valve.

1. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having an outlet, b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit and adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which waste liquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposal system, c. structure comprising a valve which is movable between closed and open positions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit, d. said valve normally being closed, e. means urging said valve closed, f. means moving said normally closed valve from its closed position toward its fully open position responsive to partial vacuum, and g. means regulating said last-mentioned valve moving means to effect movement of said valve from its closed position toward its fully open position and back to its closed position responsive to increase and decrease, respectively, in the hydrostatic pressure of wAste liquid in said drain conduit.
 2. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having an outlet, b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit and adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which waste liquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposal system, c. structure comprising a valve which is movable between closed and open positions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit, d. said valve normally being closed, e. means urging said valve closed, and f. means moving said normally closed valve from its closed position toward its fully open position responsive to increase in the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit.
 3. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having an outlet, b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit and adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which waste liquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposal system, c. structure comprising a first valve which is movable between closed and open positions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit, d. means biasing said first valve to its closed position, e. means defining a place at a partial vacuum, f. means responsive to a partial vacuum for moving said first valve to an open position against said biasing means, said last-mentioned means including conduit means connected to said place, g. a second valve coupled in said conduit means, and h. pressure sensing means responsive to the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit, i. said pressure sensing means being operatively connected to said second valve to effect movement thereof between its fully open and closed positions responsive to the hydrostatic pressure to which said pressure sensing means is subjected.
 4. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having an outlet, b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit and adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which waste liquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposal system, c. structure comprising a first valve which is movable between closed and open positions and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit, d. said first valve normally being closed, e. means urging said first valve closed, f. means operative to cause said normally closed first valve to move to an open position responsive to a partial vacuum, said last-mentioned means including conduit means connected to a region of said discharge conduit downstream from said first valve, g. a second valve coupled in said conduit means, and h. pressure sensing means influenced by a pressure condition affected by the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit, i. said pressure sensing means being operatively connected to said second valve to effect movement thereof between its fully open and closed positions responsive to the pressure condition to which said pressure sensing means is subjected.
 5. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having an outlet, b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit and adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which waste liquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposal system, c. structure comprising a valve which is movable between closed and open positioNs and coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit, d. said valve normally being closed, e. means urging said valve closed, f. means moving said normally closed valve from its closed position toward its fully open position responsive to a partial vacuum, and g. means upstream from said valve responsive to increase in the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit operative to regulate said last-mentioned valve moving means to move said valve from its closed position.
 6. The combination with a pneumatic sewage disposal system, of a. a drain conduit for draining waste liquid from a place having an outlet, b. a discharge conduit which is connected to said drain conduit and adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum and through which waste liquid from said drain conduit is discharged into the sewage disposal system, c. structure comprising a first valve which is coupled in said discharge conduit for controlling flow of waste liquid from said drain conduit to said discharge conduit, d. means operatively connected to said first valve for operating the same responsive to partial vacuum, said last-mentioned means including conduit means connected to a region at a partial vacuum, e. a second valve coupled in said conduit means, f. pressure sensing means upstream from said first valve influenced by a pressure condition affected by the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit, and g. said pressure sensing means being operatively connected to said second valve to effect movement thereof between its fully open and closed positions responsive to the pressure condition to which said pressure sensing means is subjected.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said pressure sensing means comprises a flexible diaphragm.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said flexible diaphragm is subject to the hydrostatic pressure of waste liquid in said drain conduit.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said flexible diaphragm is disposed in a wall of said drain conduit.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said means for operating said first valve responsive to a partial vacuum is provided with an opening for bleeding ambient air therein.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said conduit means responsive to partial vacuum is connected to a region of said discharge conduit downstream from said first valve. 